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Lincoln County Sheriff Robert Shepperd is asking for the public's help in identifying the person or persons responsible for the cruel and brutal killing of two Doberman pinscher dogs in the Capitan Gap area east of Capitan. A reward for up to $5,000 is being offered by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Police are investigating, but have yet to make any arrests in the case, prompting PETA to offer the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction on cruelty charges of the person or persons responsible for the dogs' deaths.

The owner of the dogs, a Capitan area resident, began a campaign to locate his two missing dogs in late November after they chased a deer. On Nov. 28, the dogs were found by a hunter dead and discarded on Capitan Gap Road several miles north of U.S. 380.

The owner was notified and contacted by the sheriff's office. Deputies responding to investigate describe the fate of the animals as "sickening," according to a release from the sheriff's office.

The dogs were taken to a local veterinarian, who examined the carcasses. Both dogs suffered broken necks and appear to have been dragged. The female dog was pregnant.

"It takes a dangerous person to drag two dogs until their necks snap," PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch said. "PETA is urging anyone with information about this case to come forward immediately so that whoever killed these dogs can be held accountable, and before anyone else gets hurt."

According to leading mental-health professionals and law-enforcement agencies, perpetrators of violent acts against animals are often repeat offenders who pose a serious threat to the community at large, she said.

PETA, whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to abuse in any way," notes that dogs and cats should never be allowed to roam unattended outdoors, where they may be taken, attacked by other animals, or abused by cruel people.

Anyone having information related to this offense is urged to call the sheriff's office at 1-800-687-2419 or CrimeStoppers at 1-575-257-4545. Callers can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward if the information leads to the conviction of the offender or offenders. For more information, please visit PETA.org.